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Take on Darth Vader in Star Wars update to Zen Pinball Party on Apple Arcade

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Take on Darth Vader in 'Star Wars' update to 'Zen Pinball Party' on Apple Arcade
Play pinball with Luke, Han, Leia, Anakin and Ahsoka.
Photo: Zen Studios

Play pinball in a galaxy far, far away as an update to Zen Pinball Party adds two new tables based on Star Wars. Enjoy characters and music from some of the bast of the Skywalker saga.

The pinball game launched on Apple Arcade in 2021, and already lets players have a go at tables with a Kung Fu Panda theme, or Trolls, or How to Train Your Dragon.

Apple shows off sound artists’ use of Macs for Star Wars Day

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At Skywalker Ranch, Skywalker Sound’s world-class artists create the world’s most recognizable sounds for films like the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises.
At Skywalker Ranch, Skywalker Sound’s world-class artists create the world’s most recognizable sounds for films like the "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" franchises.
Photo: Apple

Happy Star Wars Day — even if you didn’t know that was a thing. Apple is celebrating the nerdy holiday by showcasing the widespread use of Macs and iOS devices at Skywalker Sound.

Festivities include the release of a “Behind the Mac” YouTube video and feature article about the audio artists at George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch, along with a special online “Today at Apple” session about creating Star Wars sound effects.

Display your fandom with 3 new Lego Star Wars diorama sets

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The Death Star Trash Compactor diorama lets you move the walls to simulate the crushing action.
The Death Star Trash Compactor diorama lets you move the walls to simulate the crushing action.
Photo: Lego

Lego is bringing three new Star Wars diorama sets to a galaxy not at all far away in April, with preorders available now. Aimed at adult fans of the beloved franchise, all three cost under $100 — which is a lot cheaper than some Lego creations.

Lego has done plenty of dioramas, but these Star Wars vignettes are on a smaller, more affordable scale than usual.

Head for a galaxy far, far away in Lego Star Wars: Castaways on Apple Arcade

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‘Lego Star Wars: Castaways‘ will debut on Apple Arcade in November, 2021.
You and your friends can each design a minifig and join the fun in Lego Star Wars: Castaways.
Photo: Gameloft/Apple Arcade

Explore a mysterious new planet with friends in Lego Star Wars: Castaways. It will be the first social, action-adventure Lego Star Wars game, so it’ll offer chances to relive great moments from the movies or have dance parties.

The upcoming Gameloft title will be available only on Apple Arcade.

Lego Star Wars Battles explodes onto Apple Arcade

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Grab your blaster: ‘Lego Star Wars Battles‘ shoots toward Apple Arcade
“Lego Star Wars Battles” lets Chewbacca fight Boba Fett. Or have an Ewok take on a Tusken Raider.

The newest addition to Apple Arcade really puts the “war” in Star Wars. Look for a mix of one-on-one real-time combat and tower defense with classic characters in Lego Star Wars Battles.

The game debuted Friday, and is playable on a wide variety of Apple devices.

Mandalorian selfies, 21st century biz cards and more [Awesome Apps of the Week]

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What kind of lunatic wants to show up in Din Djarin's holopuck?1? Awesome Apps of the Week include Star Wars, HomePage, OmniFocus and SpotHero.
What kind of lunatic wants to show up in Din Djarin's holopuck?!?
Image: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

You can make like an intergalactic outlaw or keep in touch like a pro with two of the new apps and updates featured in the week’s roundup. And the other two featured apps show off the growing versatility of macOS Big Sur and CarPlay, two Apple platforms that deserve a little extra love.

Get the scoop in this week’s edition of Awesome Apps of the Week.

Star Wars, Marvel and other Disney movies get free 4K upgrade in iTunes

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Stormtroopers-Fortnite
"These are the 4K upgrades you're looking for."
Photo: Epic Games

An assortment of Disney movies are now available in 4K HDR quality on iTunes. If you’ve not bought them already, the movies can be purchased for the same price as their previous HD counterparts. If you previously purchased the HD version, it will be automatically upgraded to 4K for free.

This includes the Star Wars movies, much of the Marvel catalog, and various Pixar and Disney films — with more being added all the time.